One injured as CG opens fire on trawlers inside no-go zone

Kendrapara: A fisherman was injured as Coast Guard personnel opened fire at a group of trawlers which had sneaked into Gahirmatha marine sanctuary in Kendrapara district, the police said on Tuesday.

Kendrapara Superintendent of Police Satish Kumar Gajaviye said the injured person, Niranjan Mandal, was a crew member of a trawl which had intruded into prohibited seawaters.

He has been shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack for treatment, the SP said.

The incident had occurred at about 9 PM last night in Gahirmatha coast when a Coast Guard ship on coastal security exercise spotted about 12 sea-worthy vessels, he said.

The Coast Guard personnel asked the crew of the vessels to surrender, but they didn't pay any heed to it and tried to flee, Gajaviye said.

Later the Coast Guard opened fire, resulting in the injury of the fisherman, the SP said quoting CG personnel.

While eight fishermen have been arrested for carrying out illegal fishing voyage in prohibited Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, the police were conducting separate investigation into the shootout incident, Gajaviye added.

The fishermen intruded into prohibited breeding zones of endangered olive ridley sea turtles and were arrested under legal provisions.